Most hyped cameras of the year — GoPro put a 1-inch sensor in an action camera. Lots of 1-inch pocket cams. Difference is rack focus. It does not have autofocus. Daytime / open exposure looks great. Pros can love manual focus. Everyday point-and-shoot buyer? More questionable. Check the live listing.
GoPro Mission One Pro — the unit I used on camera.
Buy / check the live listing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXLN7QNS?tag=keliidamen-la-20
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What I actually showed
This is the GoPro Mission One Pro on camera. Most hyped action cam of the year for me because GoPro put a 1-inch sensor in it. Lots of 1-inch pocket cams out there. The difference I point at first: rack focus. It does not have autofocus.
Rack focus / no autofocus
I show the body and call it straight. Manual / rack focus only. That’s the nitpick, because you’re trying to decide whether to buy it. Pros can love manual focus. Everyday point-and-shoot that racks focus for you? Not this unit.
Daylight footage
Everyday consumer / vlogging / pocket: yes on daytime. Lots of open exposure. High-quality footage in broad daylight — that’s what GoPro’s known for. Hood on helps those shots. Want more cinematic / customizations? Get an ND filter.
Vlog / pocket handling
Point-and-shoot lanes I named: zoo, swimming, tropical trip, hiking. Convenient in your pocket. Very durable. Turn-on is pretty quick. Standby runs well. Quick capture starts on the last setting so you can grab moments on the go — that was fun on my Toledo Zoo trip. Used to be unreliable; that part got better.
Mode switching is slower for me than DJI. On DJI I can leave photo and one-click back to my favorite video. Here I click through every mode. Sometimes I miss it — that’s the miss demo in my video.
This lens doesn’t swap out for a professional ALS-style setup. Next Mission One Pro where you can put an actual lens on still doesn’t autofocus. Manual focus. Pros love that. Everyday consumer? Not a thing.
Accessories a buyer still needs
You will need to buy a few things with this purchase: a microSD card, ND filters, maybe another battery, and a whole bunch of different brackets. The updated battery supercharges really fast — about five minutes and you’ve got a bunch of video shooting — but you still need one.
In the box: paperwork, a couple of stickers, an adapter, helmet mount, quarter screw. That’s it. Past GoPros I’ve bought used to include a hard-shell case. Not this time. Pretty much the camera and a few little adapter pieces.
The autofocus problem
Everybody’s already talking features and settings. I’m nitpicking because you’re trying to decide whether to buy the new GoPro Mission One Pro.
Rack focus. It does not have autofocus. That’s the first thing I point out.
Everyday consumer / vlogging / pocket: yes — daytime, lots of open exposure, high-quality footage in broad daylight. Hood helps. Want cinematic / customizations: get an ND filter.
Point-and-shoot lanes: zoo, swimming, tropical trip, hiking. Convenient in your pocket. Durable.
Quick capture / standby pretty quick. Toledo Zoo. Starts on last setting — grab moments on the go. Used to be unreliable; got better.
What you still have to buy
MicroSD card. ND filters. Maybe another battery — it supercharges really fast, about five minutes and you’ve got video shooting. Still need one. Plus a whole bunch of different brackets.
In the box: paperwork, stickers, adapter, helmet mount, quarter screw. Past GoPros used to include a hard-shell case. Not this time. Pretty much the camera and a few little adapter pieces.
DJI aside: one click back to favorite video mode from photo. Here you click through every mode. Sometimes I miss it.
No switching this lens out for a professional ALS-style setup. Next Mission One with an actual lens still doesn’t autofocus — manual focus. Professionals love that. Everyday consumer? Not a thing.
Who this is for
I recommend this to professionals. Everyday user? A little more questionable.
Know your settings and want that 1-inch sensor with manual / rack focus? Your lane. Want point-and-shoot that autofocuses for you? Look elsewhere.
Spec strip
Said on camera: GoPro Mission One Pro; 1-inch sensor action cam hype; no autofocus / rack focus; daytime open-exposure quality; hood; ND for cinematic; zoo/swim/tropical/hiking pocket use; must-buy microSD + ND + maybe battery + brackets; ~5 min supercharge; sparse box (no hard-shell case vs past); quick capture / last setting; DJI one-click mode miss; no ALS lens swap on this unit; next Mission One with lens still manual focus; pros yes / everyday questionable; Peace / Aloha close.
Listing: current price — check the live listing. No dollar spoken.
Pros
- 1-inch sensor action camera that still fits in your pocket.
- Really good daytime / open-exposure footage in broad daylight.
- Hood helps those daylight shots.
- Convenient and durable for zoo, swimming, tropical trips, hiking.
- Quick turn-on / standby; quick capture starts on the last setting (Toledo Zoo use).
- Updated battery supercharges fast — about five minutes and you’ve got a bunch of video shooting.
Cons
- No autofocus — rack focus / manual only.
- Extra buys: microSD card, ND filters, maybe another battery, plus brackets.
- Sparse box vs past GoPros — no hard-shell case; mostly the camera and a few adapter pieces.
- Mode switching means clicking through every mode to get back to your favorite (easy to miss).
- No adjustable / swappable lens on this unit for a professional ALS-style setup.
- Even the next Mission One Pro with an actual lens still won’t autofocus — manual focus; everyday consumer AF is not a thing.
Who this is for / not
For: professionals / people who know settings and want the 1-inch Mission One Pro sensor with manual / rack focus.
Not for: everyday vloggers who need autofocus rack-for-you point-and-shoot; anyone who expected a full hard-shell case + kit in the box.
vs sister posts
GoPro Mission 1 Pro vs Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Insta360 GO 3
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo 360
FAQ
Does it autofocus?
No. Rack focus. Manual only. That’s the first thing I point out on the Mission One Pro. Pros can love that. Everyday consumer who wants autofocus that racks for you? Not this camera. Next Mission One Pro with an actual lens still doesn’t autofocus either.
Good for daylight vlogging?
Yes for daytime. Lots of open exposure. High-quality footage in broad daylight. Hood helps. Want more cinematic / customizations — get an ND filter. Pocket lanes I named: zoo, swimming, tropical trip, hiking — convenient and durable. Quick capture / last-setting start helps grab moments on the go. The tradeoff is no autofocus and slower mode switching if you’re bouncing photo ↔ favorite video.
What’s in the box?
Paperwork, a couple of stickers, an adapter, helmet mount, and a quarter screw. That’s it. Past GoPros I’ve bought used to include a hard-shell case. Not this time. Pretty much the camera and a few little adapter pieces. You do get a hood.
What else to buy?
A microSD card. ND filters. Maybe another battery — the updated battery supercharges really fast, about five minutes and you’ve got a bunch of video shooting, but still. Plus a whole bunch of different brackets. Check the live listing for the unit I used.
Hopefully this helps your decision-making on whether the Mission One Pro is your next action camera. Peace. Aloha.
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